I've been on plenty of Comets and Arrows that were packed 3x2 plus standees all up and down ten or even 12 (Arrows) cars. And that includes arguments and near fist fights over people not moving their crap off the middle seat. Nobody wants to sit there but they will gladly do so when given the choice of (a) middle seat (b) standing in the aisle (c) standing in the vestibule or waiting for the next train.

Back in the early 1970's, train 57 from Hoboken to Port Jervis had 10-11 Stillwell coaches. Of course, this was before NJT and before the NJ Dep't of Transportation would permit the new push-pull equipment to venture west of Suffern except for one eastbound morning train that originated at Middletown.

trainbrain wrote:ML is 2x2 because the floor is raised on the lower level for where the seats are and they just made the upper the same.

People do sit in the middle seat sometimes on comets but only on the most crowded trains. Usually it ends up being 2×1 or 2×2 in terms of actual seats occupied.

The ML's are 2x2 because riders hate the middle seat, so in the interest of comfort they made it 2x2 - the double level of seats still increases capacity despite losing the middle seat. The arrangement has nothing to do with what's on the lower level seat-wise.

Arrow III's on the corridor, 8AM train from Metropark to NYC, EVERY MIDDLE SEAT is occupied. People often standing as well. Middle seats always occupied on busy NEC trains.... And really it's NOT THAT BAD!

So does anyone have any idea when and if the Hoboken terminal improvement projects start? There are many signs promising work on reconstructed canopy and walkway, building high level platforms in place of a canal, etc? Will any work start in Spring?

The filling of the canal and the high level platforms there are not scheduled to start this spring. To the best of my knowledge, the work has not gone out for bids yet and then the contract has to be approved by the board before it can be signed and work begun.